Where would you like to sail this summer?

Islands and French harbour towns

Channel Islands,
Cotentin and northern Brittany

Walk the small roads on Sark, swim beside the town walls in St-Malo, find a lunch spot in St-Vaast. A summer with room for both small islands and lively days in town.

Two–three weeks in a few places, with time to linger.

Harbour days and walks along the Atlantic

Western Brittany / Finistère

Lunch by the water in Camaret, a market morning in Douarnenez, a walk along the Atlantic. Island visits can be an extra adventure.

Two–three weeks, or a shorter stay around Brest and Camaret.

South Devon and Cornwall

Southwest England

Riverside towns, beach afternoons and gardens, from Dartmouth to Falmouth and Helford. A few favourite places, with time to stay.

Two–three weeks on the mainland, or a shorter holiday around Plymouth and Fowey.

Mainland markets and island beaches

Southern Brittany

A morning in Concarneau, sandy beaches on Groix, a walk on Belle-Île. Three groups of places along the coast, with room for long afternoons ashore.

Three–four weeks in a few places, with time to stay.

Cycle rides, markets and island days

Vendée and the Atlantic islands

Cycle rides, market mornings and harbour towns, from Noirmoutier and Yeu to La Rochelle, Ré, Aix and Oléron.

Two–three weeks with a few stays in one of the two coastal areas, or a longer holiday visiting both.

Island days with time ashore

Islay, Jura and Colonsay

Time ashore on Islay, a possible stay on Jura and perhaps Colonsay: coastal walks, village meals and room to stay a little longer.

About two weeks with Islay as a starting point, visiting the other islands when access conditions and weather allow.

Island views and dinners by the harbour

Clyde, Arran and Kintyre

Island views, dinners by the harbour and days ashore around Bute and Loch Fyne, with Arran and eastern Kintyre as possible additions.

Seven–ten days around the Clyde and Bute, or a longer holiday with a few more places to stay.

Harbour colours, time ashore

Mull and the Inner Hebrides

Colourful Tobermory and quiet days by the Sound of Mull. Woodland walks, a beach day and optional island excursions, with time to stay.

Seven–ten days around the sound, or two–three weeks with longer stays and more trips ashore.

Island days and time ashore

Skye and the Small Isles

Southern Skye and selected Small Isles, with gardens, woodland paths and time by the harbour. Mallaig is a possible starting point; fewer islands leave time for a longer stay.

Two–three weeks with room to stay, or seven–ten days around Mallaig, Armadale and one or two islands when conditions suit.

Barra and Uist · time to stay

Outer Hebrides

Beach days on Vatersay, village life in Castlebay and time to linger in a few harbours on Barra and Uist.

Two–three weeks with selected stays, or seven–ten days around Barra and Vatersay, allowing for the weather and the return.

Sea lochs, gardens and time ashore

Northwest Scotland: the mainland

Days ashore around Ullapool, Loch Ewe and Gairloch: gardens, village life and time to stay, with Lochinver as a possible addition.

Two–three weeks in a few places, or seven–ten days based in Ullapool with optional excursions.

Several local holidays to choose from

The Irish Sea

Welsh beaches, harbour days in Ireland or a stay on an island. Several local holidays to choose from, with time to linger on one coast.

Start with seven–ten days around Milford Haven, or explore the possibilities along another coast.

Northwest Spain

Northern Galicia and the Rías Altas

Ocean-facing headlands open into rías with fishing towns, waterfront cities and sheltered shores. Arrive beneath A Coruña’s Roman lighthouse, explore the branching Ártabro waters or follow the coast towards Ribadeo.

Lace-making and pilgrimage at Camariñas and Muxía, naval Ferrol, the cliffs of Capelada and the working harbours of the Cantabrian coast.

Galician bays · time to stay

Rías Baixas

Small harbour towns, food markets and beach days in a few Galician sea inlets.

Two–three weeks with time to stay, or a shorter holiday around Vigo and Cangas.

Portugal · Viana to Sines

Portugal’s Atlantic coast.

River cities, fishing harbours and islands offshore: Viana, Porto, Aveiro, Berlengas, Lisbon, the Sado and Sines.

Five geographic chapters connect the coast’s maritime stories with harbours and places ashore.

The south coast · six holiday ideas

Algarve, Gibraltar and Andalucía

Beach and island life in the Algarve, a market in Cádiz or a museum day in Málaga.

Choose a local stay; Cartagena in Murcia is a separate alternative.

The Balearics · two islands to get to know

Ibiza and Formentera

Beach days, old-town streets and cycle rides on two islands.

Seven–ten days on the islands, or a longer holiday with selected mainland coastal towns.

Palma · Sóller · Small harbour towns

Mallorca

Palma, Sóller and small harbour towns, with swimming and time ashore. Choose part of the island for two–three weeks.

A shorter holiday around Palma and the southwest, or based in the north. Cabrera and the mainland are optional additions.

The Balearics · time for one more swim

Menorca

Days swimming, the garden on Illa del Rei and evenings by the harbour.

Seven–ten days based in Maó, or more time along a few selected coasts.

Mediterranean France · Marseille & the limestone coast

Marseille, Frioul, the Calanques and Cassis

Marseille’s markets and city harbour, the islands of Frioul and the limestone Calanques towards Cassis. The town harbour and Port-Miou offer different settings.

Marseille within the wider coast

Mediterranean France · the Îles d’Or

Toulon, Hyères and Porquerolles

Porquerolles’ cycle paths, beaches and art, and Port-Cros’ harbour village and walking trails. Toulon, Hyères and Giens connect the mainland with this island world.

The islands within the wider coast

Mediterranean France · Var coast & eastern Riviera

Côte d’Azur, from Saint-Tropez to Menton

Saint-Tropez and the red Esterel coast give way to Cannes, Lérins and Antibes, then the towns towards Menton. The regional overview distinguishes the Var coast from the eastern Riviera.

Explore the two eastern coastal zones

Calvi · Balagne · Girolata

Northwest Corsica

Seven–ten days around Calvi and Balagne, with the citadel, beach and coastal train. More time allows village days in Girolata.

Ajaccio · Valinco · Filitosa

Western and southwestern Corsica

Markets and city life in Ajaccio, excursions to Parata and Porticcio and separate days around Valinco. Filitosa is a trip ashore.

Bonifacio · Lavezzi · Southern bays

Southern Corsica

Bonifacio’s white cliffs, the granite islands at Lavezzi and time for swimming, town life and coastal walks.

Seven–ten days around Bonifacio and Lavezzi, or about two weeks with more bays and days ashore.

Bastia and Macinaggio · Porto-Vecchio and Pinarellu

Northern and eastern Corsica

Town life and coastal paths around Bastia and Macinaggio, or a separate holiday with Porto-Vecchio and the beaches near Pinarellu.

Seven–ten days in one of the areas, or around two weeks with longer stays.

Olbia · Gallura · Tavolara

Northeast Sardinia

Harbour evenings in Olbia, granite villages and old stone buildings in Gallura, with Tavolara and the beaches along the east coast.

Seven–ten days around Olbia and the east coast, or Cannigione and Gallura. Two–three weeks allow longer stays; Tavolara is an optional excursion.

Alghero · Porto Conte · Asinara

Northwest Sardinia

Alghero’s old town and Porto Conte’s limestone cliffs, or a holiday in the north with Asinara, Stintino and Castelsardo.

Seven–ten days in one of the areas, or two–three weeks with time for the passage between them.

Bosa · Sinis and Cabras · The mining coast

Western Sardinia

Bosa’s riverfront and small town streets, or separate days around Cabras and Sinis. Mining history and cliff scenery offer more trips ashore.

Seven–ten days in one area, or two–three weeks with time for the longer coastal stages. The berth determines whether Sinis becomes a holiday aboard or ashore.

Carloforte · Calasetta · Cagliari

Southern Sardinia

Harbour evenings in Carloforte and Calasetta, beaches on San Pietro and time for trips ashore.

Seven–ten days around the two island towns. Two–three weeks in total allow selected places along the mainland coast, Nora and Cagliari.

Villasimius · Costa Rei · Ogliastra

Southeast Sardinia

Beach days and evenings in town around Villasimius, with Porto Giunco and Notteri nearby.

Seven–ten days in the south, or two–three weeks in total with a possible continuation to Arbatax and Santa Maria Navarrese.

Elba · Capraia · Giglio

The Tuscan islands

Harbour towns, beaches and hillside villages on Elba, with time for trips ashore.

Seven–ten days on Elba, or two–three weeks in total with Capraia or Giglio and a day on the mainland.

Procida · Ischia · Capri

Bay of Naples

Small towns, gardens and swimming on Procida and Ischia, with time for several nights in the same harbour.

Seven–ten days on the islands. About two weeks allow Capri and Naples; with two–three weeks, part of the Amalfi Coast can also fit.

Lipari · Salina · The outer islands

The Aeolian Islands

Evenings in town on Lipari, lunch in Lingua and walks across Salina, with several nights in the same place.

Seven–ten days around Lipari and Salina. With more time, Vulcano or a continuation towards the outer islands are possible additions.

Palermo · Cefalù · The coast eastwards

Sicily’s north coast

Town life, beaches and evenings by the sea, with several nights in each place.

Seven–ten days around Palermo and Cefalù. Two–three weeks allow more stays to the west or along the eastern coast.

Ortigia · Marzamemi · Days ashore

Southeast Sicily

Ortigia’s market, evenings in Marzamemi and trips ashore to Noto and Vendicari.

Seven–ten days from one base, or about two weeks with both. Marina di Ragusa is a possible addition to the west.

Trapani · Marsala · Erice and Mozia

Western Sicily

Town life by the sea, salt landscapes and several days in the same place, with Erice and Mozia as trips ashore.

Seven–ten days from one base or about two weeks with both towns. More time allows a beach to the north or Selinunte to the south.